In the 14 years since the lottery began, we’ve shared thousands of stories of winners from all over. These winners came from all different backgrounds, but one thing that each and every winner has in common is that they all experienced a life-changing moment when their dream came true.
While every winner’s story is unforgettable, we want to recap a few of the ones that have stuck with us over the years. So today we’re counting down the 5 most memorable winners:
Lexington couple Dale and Robin Summey became the first players to win $10 million – the largest scratch-off prize in state lottery history – when they claimed the first top prize in the Ultimate Millions game in September 2015. Dale and his wife said they enjoyed buying lottery tickets, sitting on their picnic table outside their home, and dreaming about the things they would do if they ever hit it big. He was sitting at the picnic table when he scratched the ticket, told his son the news, and then went to tell his wife the news. “I’ve done it,’” he said he told Robin. “Done what?” she asked. “I’ve won $10 million,” he answered, and showed her the ticket.
In November 2016, Manalle Earnhardt of Salisbury received the gift of a lifetime – $1,000 a day, every day, for the rest of her life – when her father gave her a winning Lucky For Life ticket as a gift. Manalle said her dad liked to buy lottery tickets for her and her brother on a regular basis, but she never expected to win. “He likes to play,” she said when she claimed her prize. “He wants to see us enjoy playing as well. This is so surreal.” Her ticket was the first to win Lucky For Life's top prize.
We all remember North Carolina’s newest Powerball jackpot winner. In June 2019, Charles Jackson Jr. of Parkton picked his numbers from his granddaughter’s fortune cookie and became the lucky winner of a $344.6 million Powerball jackpot. Charles said he didn’t have any big plans after his win, expect for maybe a new outfit or two. “It probably won’t change much. I mean, let me put it this way, I will still wear jeans,” he said during the press conference announcing his win. “But I will probably buy some new ones!”
Chef Roberto Mendoza of Charlotte said he’s had a lot of winning moments in his life. He’s cooked for President Trump and for former President Obama. He’s even catered the Oscars. But for Roberto, winning a $250,000 lottery prize in January 2019 meant he was finally able to help others by using the money to build a cafeteria in the Dominican Republic to feed the hungry. “We feed more than 300 children through my foundation,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be hungry. I told myself when I was a teen that, if I’m ever in a position to give back, I’d do everything I can to make sure no one else has to go hungry.”
When Gina Short of Mecklenburg County was surprised with the news that she had won $1 million in the Ultimate Millions second-chance drawing in February 2016, she fell to the floor in excitement. “I have a second chance,” she said. “That’s what my whole life is about, second chances.” She said winning the prize means a lot to her because of her cancer diagnosis several years before. And while she faced additional cancer treatments, Gina said the prize would help her to “truly live.”
The best part of working at the lottery is meeting our winners. We’ve had the opportunity to meet many over you over the years. And it’s been a great honor to be a part of so many life-changing moments.
We look forward to getting to meet even more of you when the time comes.
In the meantime, if you won a big prize remember to sign the back of your tickets and store them in a safe place until you are able to claim. Your prize will be waiting for you.
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